‘Jesus Christ Supernova: The Heavy Metal Soundtrack’
Tin Idols
(Tin Idol Productions)
The entire score of "Jesus Christ Superstar" arranged and performed as heavy metal. That’s the concept of this imaginative and artistically successful two-CD project from producer-musician Gerard K. Gonsalves and Tin Idols Productions.
Mark Caldeira (Jesus Christ) and Mark Kaleiwahea (Judas Iscariot) star in this imaginative reworking of the gospel according to Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Cathy Malia Loewenberg (Mary Magdelene), Brett Wolfington-Floodman (Caiaphas), Kevin Jones (Annas), Eric Dacoscos Malalis (Pilate) and Sam Kapu III (Simon Zealotes) in the major supporting roles.
The genre change seems a natural transition. Heavy metal vocalists typically sing with searing intensity — so did many of the characters in "JCS." The generally dark and ominous sound of metal also fits the mood of the story. Caldeira and Kaleiwahea do an excellent job as the two leads, and Malalis and Kapu deliver the same emotional intensity in their showcase numbers.
With one or two exceptions, Gonsalves keeps the faith with the intent and structure of the original. The biggest divergence are changes to the character of Herod and the arrangement of "King Herod’s Song." Rice and Lloyd Webber wrote Christ’s encounter with Herod as a moment of comic relief; the whimsical tone of the song was unique in the show, and the Jewish king was written as a comical figure. Gonsalves and his co-arrangers — Vernon Beebe (Herod) and guitarist Kevin Murnin — do away with all those key dramatic distinctions in their version and in doing so make it just one more piece of well-crafted metal in a landmark album.
www.facebook.com/jesuschristsupernova
"Superstar"
‘Love Is Everything’
Richard Natto
(Rdmusic/Firmbizness)
Richard Natto has been a player on the local music scene since the mid-’70s, first as one-half of Toma/Natto with guitarist Dave Toma, then as a solo artist and a member of the Society Of Seven-Las Vegas. He’s a versatile guy who can rock and improvise, follow the strict scripting required in showroom entertainment, or croon contemporary love songs. And remember the soft-pop "slow jams" format popular here in the mid-’90s? Natto is bringing "slows jams" back in his work here.
The album is a one-man showcase. Natto wrote all but one song and he sings all the vocal parts and plays all the instruments. His strength as a guitarist ensures that guitar is the most prominent instrument overall but his arrangements utilize many other instruments. There’s some nice work on piano, and, yes, the extensive use of various old-style faux-string-section synthesized programs accents the retro local-pop sound of the project.
Natto gives his romantic side full rein with his singing. His lyrics capture the magic of being in love and the poignancy of searching for love. His delivery — soft and emotional, occasionally soaring into falsetto — seals the deal. Natto’s "Love" expresses the feelings of romantics of all ages.
www.richardnatto.com
"Love Is Everything"
